Immediate Response: Supergirl (2026)

 I had a busy week (or so) and couldn't get to this one until today.

It's time to watch...

The Good

* The Film has a very unique vibe, taking predominantly in Outer Space and involving lots of various Alien Races. 
It's like the Lobby Scene in every Men in Black Film, but many times in 1 Film.
* This Supergirl feels unique.  She has experienced trauma and is escaping it until fate makes her act.

* The Brigands are good enemies, with their Ravager-like attire and being easily hated.  Their Leader is just a mean, mean dude.
* The way we learn Supergirl's background and how it plays out is well done.

* Lobo is a fun distraction and does add lots to the Story.
* The Character Arcs across the board are well done.

The Bad

* Because the extent of her Origin is revealed later, early response to Supergirl and her antics might be taken the wrong way.
* I would have loved to see her in the suit before the Finale.

* Hopefully more of these cosmic adventures can include some form of the Green Lantern Corps.  I'd settle for just G'Nort.
* Some people are calling some of Supergirl's actions as 'controversial.'  I don't see it, but that's just me.

Nothing is bad as this picture I found on Google though.

A Film that manages to do its own thing- whether it works for you or not.  Here's to more creativity and more of Milly as Supergirl.

DTV Trash?: Superman- Braniac Attacks

DC had a great run as the Studio making the best Animated Shows in the '90s.
Inevitably, the Shows had to end and Direct to Video Features followed.

Some are confusing (like Mystery of the Batwoman), some are good (like Subzero) and some hurt us all on a deeper level (like Batman & Harley Quinn).

This one- 2006's Superman- Brainiac Attacks has eluded me for a while.

Which category does this fall into?

To find out, read on...

As a foreword, this is actually NOT a follow-up to the DCAU (Batman to Justice League Unlimited). 

It's just an Animated Film made in 2006- the same year as Superman Returns- that uses the same art assets and half of the OG Voice Cast of the Superman Cartoon.

That's only a lot confusing.

Anyhow, as the Title states, Brainiac attacks!  This looks like a job for, well, you know...

Brainiac hijacks Luthor's anti-meteor satellite (which failed to stop his arrival) to blast the crap out of Superman.

This gives Luthor- voiced here by Powers Boothe channeling Gene Hackman- an idea or two. 

Superman finally wrecks Brainiac's body by freezing it and making it shatter.

That's not usually how this works, but I'll accept it.

Cool shot- no pun intended.

Luthor pockets Brainiac's brain chip from the debris and takes him back to LexCorp.

He makes a deal- he'll give Brainiac a new body with some new tech (including the one piece of kryptonite he has) if he destroys Superman.

In the Cartoons, they were literally fused into one Cronenbergian body.  This is safer.

This new body is formed from the Satellite itself and...now he has arms and legs?

The Satellite had those already or...I'm probably overthinking a Cartoon, aren't I?

Using Luthor's tech, it can track Superman and attacks him while he's out with Lois as Clark.

A fight ensues, but it eventually blasts Superman and Lois with some sort of kryptonite wave beam.

This poisons them both, because...why not?

Superman finds no help in his Fortress of Solitude and Brainiac attacks again.

He blows up the place and vanishes into The Phantom Zone, where the secret lies.

Seen here flying inside the mind of Hunter S. Thompson

While he's in there, Luthor reveals to Mercy that he has a failsafe to destroy Brainiac's body.

He positions himself as a hero to stop Brainiac...who took out the failsafe, because, you know, he's Brainiac.

Things go poorly for him until Superman returns (not that one).

Superman is covered in an orange glow and now resistant to the Kryptonite beams.

He eventually overpowers and overcharges Brainiac for the victory.

One final attack makes Superman have to use up the orange energy to save Lois.

In the aftermath, a cocky Luthor soon is hoisted by his own petard!

Oh and Superman doesn't stop being Clark.  Cool.

A decent to good Animated Film that does take some adjustments to enjoy.

As noted, this is just a completely separate entity from Superman: The Animated Series, despite using their Character Models, Locations and half of the Voice Cast.

I was distracted quite a bit at first by the new voices- Boothe as Luthor and Lance Henriksen as Brainiac- while others- like Tara Strong as Mercy- were fine.

Boothe- who was great as Gorilla Grodd- plays a campier and sillier Luthor here that I eventually warmed up to.  There's no wrong version of the Character- well, other than Jesse Eisenberg- but seeing the face I know with a different voice was weird.

Henriksen was fine, if unremarkable as Brainiac.  Corey Burton brought a subtle menace that Lance simply didn't.

Canon and Voice issues aside, this one was alright.  It took some big swings in the story and some of them paid off.

A prolonged part where Jimmy Olsen is beaten up- weird.  
Other swings were countered by simply being undone abruptly (the Fortress will be rebuilt and Clark stays). 
If you're not canon, why not stick to these?

Ultimately, this one kind of falls in the middle with these Adaptations/Follow-Ups.  It's just alright and I can see why it isn't talked about much.

Sorry, new Lex.  I did grow to like you.

Next time, I dig into my digital vault to cover a Sequel that is very much forgotten.  Before he made billion-dollar Films, James Cameron went fishing.  Stay tuned...

Fiction vs. Fiction: Superman Returns (2006)

 Another Book to Film comparison, but with a semi-modern twist.

This time it is Superman Returns, which has a big anniversary coming up later this year.

Instead of reading the Novelization, I *listened* to the Book on CD version.

This is...

****VS****

What's the Same?

As a Novelization, they didn't change the basic Story.
This one is just about what didn't make the cut in the Film (which was still nearly 3 hours).

Makes sense?

What's Different?

The Novelization- done by famed Writer Marv Wolfman- is not limited by Budget or mortality.

As such, we get a whole Flashback Sequence to them sending Superman away.  ON TOP OF THAT, we get a Flashback within a Flashback to how Jor-El and Lara met.

Alright!

We also get to see how Superman returned to Krypton in his ship and nearly died out there, since the kryptonite core was exposed.

This cost several million dollars and was then CUT from the Film.
It's also not on the Blu-Ray I own (unlike most of the stuff I'll mention later) but is online in 2026.

In Smallville, we briefly see him and Mom together for a bit before he goes to Metropolis and she's gone until the end.
The Book features more of her and her new beau (James Karen in a Deleted Scene).  This sets up the idea that lots has changed since his absence.

No major changes for a while, save the Book leaning into the idea that Jimmy was super drunk at the Bar before Superman's big reveal.  Not sure what that added.

When Lois and Lex meet, his suspicions about her son Jason being Superman's are much more amplified in the Film.

In the Book, the bad guy is crushed by a bookcase, making it vague if Jason did it or the rocking ship did.  Lex leaves a bomb with the duo on the ship.
In the Film, he seems to push a piano across the room at 80mph and then Lex flees without leaving a bomb.

The Book is also more explicit about Superman's accrued injuries on Lex's new Island.  I guess they did more since you don't get the proper visual...maybe?

In contrast, the Film really milks the whole drama of 'Did Superman Die' way more than the Book does.  It feels like 5-10 minutes in the Film.

Thoughts

Both versions of the Story are good.  The Book has the habit- as Books tend to do- to stop and expand on random things all the time.

A quick shot of Perry White in the Film, for example, has a flashback that probably took up a page or two in the Book.
It's not a bad thing- it's just a thing.

The Film certainly paints a great visual, but feels like a weird mix of rushed and dragging. 
It would make the Whiplash guy go mad!

Original Lois and Jimmy with new Clark and his Wife.

Which Is Better?
The Film

It's a closer match than I was expecting, but the Film's added visual/audio elevates the material.  That and it has less filler (as good as said filler is).

Holiday Reading: The Teen Titans Battle a Slave-Hunting Ghost (in 1971)!!!!

 Fate brought my attention to this Comic.
$7.99 brought this Comic into my life.

I might as well share this bizarre oddity with you!

In the 1970s, the Teen Titans weren't selling that well on the newsstands.  The Writer- Bob Haney- was writing weird and wacky NON-SUPERHERO Tales with the Characters in an attempt to be hip.

As such, they fought foes like an evil Sorcerer, Aztec Warriors and demons!
As teased, they must battle an evil, racist ghost from the Civil War!

At this time, the team is working for a Mr. Jupiter.
He once had them fight crime without their gear, but that is a thing of the past.

He takes them to his old Home to see his Aunt before she dies and...

So, look, Bob Haney (seen here) was a 46 year old White Guy when he wrote this.  
As someone who is closer to that than he wants to admit, he probably shouldn't write Stories like this if he's going to write Mal like this.

Anyhow, Mal is out that night and is chased by something.

It leaves no evidence, so he makes a big stink about nobody trusting him.

As it turns out, he's being targeted by the Ghost of a local Slave Catcher, since he bears a more than passing similarity to his last victim.

That one escaped when he drowned in the icy river.

Robin and Mr. Jupiter realize this and seek out a magic doll to save him...

It was this or call Batman, so...

Wonder Girl tried to pull Mal to safety once, so she's out.
Speedy shot three arrows...that didn't work, so he's out.

Thankfully the now-giant Doll is up to the task.

It breaks the ice and drags the Ghost Dogs with it.

It also breaks the ice up so much that the Ghost falls into the icy waters again.

You see, the Ghost can only be stopped if THE EXACT SAME THING happens again.

How convenient.

They leave the Doll on the Aunt's grave.
The End.

This was....pretty much what I expected and was hoping for.

This whole thing is just odd.  You have the Teen Titans, so let's have them...fight a Ghost?  The 70s were a weird time, but there had to be some limits.

To be fair, Batman started to deal with this stuff too...also in Bob Haney Books, mind you.

The dated stuff about this is REALLY dated.  Even so, I like to think that this was done sincerely.
This was truly a 'How do you do, fellow kids' situation...just with extra cringe because Race was involved.

The whole Story is just so strange and so bizarre.  It also makes such a poor use of most involved, hinging 100% on a single-issue Ex Machina.

I guess our Heroes helped by calling it to do all of the work though.

Teen Titans Delegate!

Look, I'm trying to find weird and obscure stuff- not all of it will be a Classic...unlike these sweet Records you can get for less than $3

Comics are usually a fun bit of escapism.  In this case, escape to a time where things were...quite different!

My Crazy Youth: The Time(s) That Metamorpho and Guy Gardner were 'Brave' and 'Bold'

 As a Fan of DC Comics, I loved Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

I miss that Show.

Let me look at two notable Debuts in the wake of Superman (2025)

In 'Enter the Outsiders' (Season 1, Episode 6), Batman and Wildcat team up to bring some bad guys to justice.

In this case, it is The Outsiders- Metamorpho, Black Lightning and Katana- who are attacking Malls and other Businesses.

As it turns out, they are being manipulated by a bad guy in the Sewers named Slug.

They, of course, turn on him and join the side of Justice!

In the Comics, Batman famously forms a team called The Outsiders (who let him work without government oversight in the Justice League).

Other members included Geo-Force and Halo (appearing once in Episode 41).  Looker- a literal Vampire- was understandably NOT on the Show.

****

In 'The Eyes of Despero,' the titular Villain takes out what seems to be the entire Green Lantern Corps.

Hal's ring flies and pulls Batman to Oa to help out.

Here he teams up with G'nort, Sinestro and Guy Gardner (who were all in Holding at the time).

Naturally, they eventually stop the Villain.

Before that, however, they reenact the most famous Guy Gardner/Batman moment. 

Naturally.

Two very enjoyable, but also very different Episodes.

'Enter' is a more grounded Episode with a throughline Plot about Wildcat dealing with getting older and how Batman treats him.

'Eyes' is a space-based tale with Comedy, betrayal and a literal Planet-sized Green Lantern Corps Member!

The beauty of this Show is that Batman is the only connective tissue in each adventure, be it the Opening Segments or the Main Plots.  
He could be teaming up with Guy, Firestorm, Wonder Woman, Shazam or even B'wana/Freedom Beast.

As such, the Show managed to go three full Seasons and always keep things fresh.

Hell, my only gripe when I watch any Episode is one Credit that was legally required of them.

That said, I don't work for DC, so...

Two fun Episodes in a Show that was full of them.  Any more First Appearances worth highlighting?

Immediate Response: Superman (2025)

 After far too long of a delay, I got to see this before anything major was SPOILed.

Let's take a quick look at...

The Good

* The Film looks great, giving you bright colors, impressive visuals and everything you'd hope for in that department.

* The Plot is good.  It skips the stuff we all know and goes right into a different version of Superman and Luthor's first face-off.

* They seem to juggle the multiple Characters quite well.  Newcomers like Hawkgirl, Guy Gardner and Metamorpho get enough moments to make you want to see more.  The focus is still on Superman an company.

* Corenswet makes a great Superman, giving him more depth than you might think, while still being the beacon of hope that he needs to be.

* Krypto.  He's a good dog. He's also a bad dog (in a fun way).

* Michael Ian Black in a Blockbuster.  About time!

* The Film has more Easter Eggs than an Easter Bunny Farm!

The Bad

* A moment or two made me wonder whether or not Peacemaker is Canon anymore and that's a bit distracting.

* The Film has a few uses of 'shit' and some moments that aren't kid friendly.

* The Film briefly makes mention of the fact that Superman is an immigrant.  I'm sorry if that offends you.

* I do have to ask random Comic Book nerd questions (that will likely be answered later) like where is Hawkman if there is a Hawkwoman? 
Also, isn't she an Alien? 
Guy literally works for Aliens, but nobody seems to care- why?

DC makes a good Film that really needs to be celebrated.  Regardless of what happens next, this Film is great!

10 Crazy Superman Moments from 'Super Friends'

 Superman has been iconic for Decades, going on a Century. 
Many people's childhood images of him are from the various iterations of Super Friends, be it the one with Wendy & Marvin, the Wonder Twins Era or the Super Powers line.

I'm glancing over at my box of loose Super Powers toys, so I'm included.

In honor of the new Superman, let's look back at some of his...odder moments, shall we?

10. Kryptonite is more common than Steel!

Superman's most famous weakness is Kryptonite and makes for an easy way to write him out of a Scene/stop him.

That said, it shows up so often AND on other Planets (seen below in The Death of Superman).

Does that mean that this is also Krypton?!?

9. Showing his Age!

Three Phantom Zone Criminals (not the ones you're thinking of) get loose and plan revenge.  They expose Superman to Red Kryptonite, which has a random effect every time.

This time, it ages him until he looks like a Character right out of Heavy Metal.  It gets disturbing!

8. How is this part of the plan?!?

As part of a larger plan to stop Manta (not Black Manta- he's beige here), Superman and Wonder Woman put on an 'Aerial Aerobics' Show to act like they are unaware of his actions.

...um, okay.

7. Super Downgrade

In a Super Powers Episode, Felix Faust casts a spell to steal Superman's powers (represented by a glowing energy ghost).

However, the power is stolen by his cellmate- The Penguin.

6. Aces High, Superman Low!

In a Super Powers: Galactic Guardians Episode, our Heroes battle new foes in the form of the Royal Flush Gang.

We later learn that they are funded/supplied by Darkseid, but seeing one of them just throw out a card that turns into a Red Sun Energy Ray (a lesser weakness from the Comics) sure is embarrassing.

Firestorm puts up a better fight than you!

5. Now how is THIS part of the Plan?!?

Stick with me here for a bit, won't you?  Two aliens in a sub have a freeze ray.  They eventually freeze the moon (in the vacuum of space).

This is PART of the Super Friends' plan, however!  Superman *breaks a chunk of the Moon off to make it a giant reflector of sunlight to thaw out the frozen Earth!

4. A (James) Whale of a Tale!

Dr. Frankenstein makes a new creation, but quickly runs afoul of the Super Friends.

It is super-easy, barely an inconvenience to capture Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Robin.  He proceeds to use a new device to create a homunculus of the first three (Robin is excluded).

His plan...

3. There's No Place Like Metropolis!

Mr. Mxyzptlyk wants revenge on Superman and transports him, Wonder Woman and Aquaman to 'The Planet of Oz.'

He transforms them into versions of the Public Domain Characters and sends them on their way.  It gets sillier as it goes in, which I won't SPOIL.

2. They're Taking the Heroes to Isengard (Isengard!)!

This Episode probably merits a full induction of its own, but I'll cover the key parts.

An evil Wizard turns our Heroes into 'trolls' (which are clearly Hobbits) and they must save Middle Earth.  Yes, they do call it Middle Earth.

1. Great WHAT now?!?

In Universe of Evil, our Superman is swapped with an evil universe's one.  

On our Earth, the evil Superman soon realizes that something is off and thinks this...

No, really!

To reiterate, this is a fun and classic Show.  It was also written for kids by people that were both very creative and probably did 'partake' of some '70s substances (if you know what I mean).

Here's this out of context image as a final proof.

Happy Superman Weekend!

Re-Review: The Suicide Squad (2021)

 After seeing this Film in a small Theater during the Pandemic, I haven't seen it since.

I got a nice Blu-Ray and, well, this seems like the best time to look back at this one.

This is The Suicide Squad, the 2021 Sequel/Reboot/something to the 2016 Film that people still want to tell you has a super-secret good Cut out there.
I'll be surprised if it does.

Another group of Villains is sent out by Amanda Waller on a strange mission of great importance.  Look forward to reuniting with, well, 3 Characters from the last Film.

This one sadly didn't do well, but did lead to a Streaming Show about one of the Characters.

Is it a Film that is bound to be remembered well or just a bunch of weird nonsense?
To find out, read on...

When Amanda Waller has a mission, she assembles a new Suicide Squad.

This includes Pete Davidsen, Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker and Jai Courtney playing a bunch of C-D List DC Villains.

They are sent to a Central American Island to destroy some technology and its link to the US Government.

Are they Epstein-ing someone?!?

Wait- if that is The Suicide Squad, what are Bloodsport, Ratcatcher 2, Peacemaker, King Shark and Polka Dot Man doing here?

Well, they're the real Main Characters.

Save for Harley Quinn, who gets her own mini-Movie and Arc inside of this same Movie.

They spend a long time with her and eventually cut back to the rest of them.

She'll eventually join up- don't worry.

Can the group- united with Colonel Flagg- work together to get past a small Army to complete the mission?

Can they hit all of the usual beats- like slow motion walking as a group IN THE RAIN no less- as they do?

What are they fighting now?

What's the deal with that javelin?

Also, wasn't that Taika Waititi in that Flashback earlier?

To find out, stream this or pop your disc in now.

A Film that is both a glowing endorsement for and a warning about what to expect in Gunn's DCEU.

As a reminder, Gunn was briefly fires by Marvel for reasons you'll either rage about or agree with.  Freed up, DC/WB said, 'Make whatever you want- we don't care!'

He did.

The Film is all about manic excess, pure insanity, a heaping of heart and lots of blood.

Seriously, if you are allergic to CGI blood and gore (somehow), this is not for you.

If you only know Gunn from the Guardians Film, this may not be for you.

I've seen far worse, but this Film definitely leans into the brutal violence.  There are moments where they add in flourishes- like Harley's big Action Scene- but it mostly is just there to shock you.

In addition, they do that trick where you see a Scene and then see a Flashback to give it context.  It is neat once.  They do it three times.

Having said all that, I really bought in to the Character moments, the Story, the fun little Cameos and the whole presentation.

I'm a weirdo and I was the Audience.  What about you?

Just remember that Sharks are not as scary IRL as they are on Film...

Next up, let's see if I can get back on Schedule.  It is a Film about a Director and all of his problems.  Stay tuned...